Altair planet. Computer artwork of the molten surface of a hypothetical planet orbiting the star Altair (Alpha Aquilae, lower right). This is a white star that lies around 16 light years from Earth in the constellation Aquila. It has an extremely fast rotation, taking less than 10 hours to complete one rotation (compared to over 26 days for the Sun). This gives it an elliptical shape. The pale band running through Altair is a disc of gas surrounding it. A moon of the planet is seen in the sky at upper left.